March 28, 2024, 07:42:27 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: ferrous  (Read 4906 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline AhmedEzatAlzawalaty

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 191
  • Mole Snacks: +4/-31
  • Gender: Male
ferrous
« on: May 07, 2008, 08:20:20 PM »
i wanna know why iron is absorbed from intestine into blood in the ferrous state not in ferric state?

Offline Rabn

  • Chemist
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 284
  • Mole Snacks: +28/-13
Re: ferrous
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2008, 08:50:56 AM »
the "thank you captain obvious" answer is that it's because the cells in the intestines don't have an iron 3+ channel. There are a lot of iron containing proteins used in cellular respiration, not to mention hemoglobin.  All the iron you eat will be a mix of both oxidation states.  In its reduced state, the body can incorporate it into proteins.  If the iron was absorbed in the +3 state, the cells would have to reduce it in order to use it in synthesis which would waste precious electrons.

Sponsored Links